To get something notarized, bring the unsigned document and a valid government-issued photo ID to a notary public, sign the document while the notary watches, and let them apply their seal and signature. The appointment usually takes 15 to 30 minutes and costs between $2 and $25 per signature, depending on your state. You can find a notary at most banks, shipping stores, county clerk offices, and public libraries, and in nearly every state you can also do the whole thing online over a video call.
What to Bring
A Current Photo ID
Bring a current, government-issued photo ID. A driver’s license, U.S. passport, or military ID card all work. The name on your ID has to match the name on the document. Even a small discrepancy, like a missing middle name or a nickname, can give the notary grounds to refuse. If you recently changed your name through marriage or court order, bring the supporting paperwork along with your ID.
In nearly every state, a notary can also identify you through personal knowledge, meaning they know you well enough from prior interactions to be confident you are who you claim to be. California is the exception, where personal knowledge alone is never sufficient. If you don’t have acceptable photo ID, some states allow a “credible identifying witness” to vouch for you. The witness has to appear with you, present their own valid ID, and take an oath confirming your identity. Call ahead before relying on this option, since the rules vary.
The Document, Unsigned and Complete
Bring the complete document with every field filled in except the signature line. Blank spaces in the body of a document are a red flag for fraud, and most notaries will refuse to proceed if key sections are empty. Spaces reserved for additional signatures from people signing separately, or sections marked for official use, are fine to leave blank.
Do not sign before you arrive. Some notarial acts require you to sign in the notary’s presence, and even where it isn’t strictly required, many notaries prefer to watch you sign. If the document calls for witnesses, those people need to come with you and bring their own photo IDs.
Yourself, Alert and Willing
A notary is trained to watch for signs that a signer doesn’t understand the document or is being pressured. If you seem confused, incoherent, or unwilling, the notary should refuse. This matters most for elderly signers or anyone with cognitive difficulties. When a family member is signing something consequential like a power of attorney, expect the notary to ask questions to gauge whether they understand what they’re agreeing to.
Where to Find a Notary
Your own bank is usually the easiest starting point. Many banks and credit unions provide notary services to account holders at no charge. Bank of America, for example, offers free notarizations at many of its financial centers.1Bank of America. Notary Services Policies for non-customers vary. Some banks will notarize for anyone, others restrict the service to account holders, and a few charge non-customers a small fee. Call ahead.
The UPS Store and FedEx Office locations frequently have a commissioned notary on staff during regular business hours. Expect to pay roughly $5 to $15 per signature, though the exact fee depends on state-regulated maximums and store-level pricing. Walk-ins are sometimes accommodated, but the notary isn’t always available, so a quick phone call saves a wasted trip.
County clerk offices and some public libraries offer notary services to the public, sometimes for free or at very low cost. Availability tends to be limited to certain hours or days of the week, so check before showing up.
If you can’t travel because of illness, disability, or scheduling, a mobile notary will come to your home, office, or hospital. Mobile notaries charge a travel fee on top of the per-signature rate. Travel fees aren’t regulated in many states, so they can range from $25 to $100 or more depending on distance and time of day. Get a quote before booking.
Online Over Video
As of 2026, 47 states and the District of Columbia have permanent laws authorizing remote online notarization, usually called RON. Instead of appearing in person, you connect with the notary through a secure video call, verify your identity through digital tools, and sign electronically while the notary watches. The notary then applies a digital seal that creates a tamper-evident file, and in most states retains an audio-video recording of the session.
RON is especially useful for real estate closings, loan signings, and any situation where you and the notary are in different places. Fees run higher than in-person notarizations, often $25 to $50 per session once platform fees are included.
What Happens at the Appointment
The notary starts by examining your ID, checking for signs of tampering, confirming the photo matches your face, and verifying the ID hasn’t expired. Then they review the document to make sure it’s complete and that the correct notarial certificate is attached.
Next, they’ll ask you to sign. Which notarial act you need affects how this goes:
- An acknowledgment is you confirming to the notary that you signed the document willingly and for its intended purpose. You can sign before or during the appointment, as long as you personally appear and declare the signature is yours.
- A jurat is you swearing or affirming under oath that the contents of the document are true. The notary administers a spoken oath along the lines of “Do you swear that the statements in this document are true?” and you have to answer out loud. A nod or silence won’t do. You also have to sign the document in the notary’s presence, not beforehand.
The document usually specifies which act is needed. If no certificate language is printed on the form, the agency receiving the document can tell you which to request. The notary can explain the difference, but the choice is yours.
Once you’ve signed, the notary applies their official seal and signature to the notarial certificate. The seal typically shows the notary’s name, commission number, and commission expiration date. The notary also logs the transaction in a journal, recording the date, document type, type of notarial act, and how they identified you. That journal entry creates a paper trail if the document’s validity is ever questioned.
What It Costs
Most states cap the fee a notary can charge per notarial act. The range runs from $2 per signature in states like Georgia and New York up to $25 in Rhode Island. The typical in-person fee falls between $5 and $10 for a standard acknowledgment or jurat. A handful of states set no statutory maximum.
Those caps apply to the notarial act itself. Businesses that offer notarization, like shipping stores or law offices, sometimes add a service or convenience fee on top. Mobile notaries add a travel fee that can easily exceed the notarization fee. Online sessions often land at $25 to $50 once platform fees are included. Confirm the total before your appointment, especially if you have multiple documents or multiple signatures.
When a Notary Will Refuse
A notary isn’t just permitted to refuse in certain situations. They’re required to. Knowing these ahead of time saves a wasted trip.
- You can’t prove who you are through valid ID, personal knowledge, or a credible witness.
- The signer isn’t physically present or on an authorized video platform. Someone else cannot appear on your behalf.
- The document has blank fields in the body, missing pages, or no notarial certificate.
- You appear to be signing under pressure, seem intoxicated, or don’t understand the document.
- Something about the transaction suggests fraud.
- The notary is named in the document or stands to benefit from it. A notary can never notarize their own signature.
A notary cannot refuse for discriminatory or arbitrary reasons. Turning someone away because of race, religion, gender, or political views can lead to complaints, suspension, or revocation of the commission.
What a Notary Can’t Do
A notary public is not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice. They can’t tell you which document to use, explain what a contract means, or recommend how to structure a transaction. Their job is to verify your identity, witness your signature, and administer oaths. If you need help understanding a document, talk to an attorney before your appointment.
A notary also cannot certify copies of certain government-issued records. Birth certificates, death certificates, and naturalization certificates are issued only by the agencies that created them. For a certified copy, go directly to the vital records office or issuing agency.
Fixing Mistakes After the Fact
A misspelled name on the certificate, a wrong date, or the wrong type of notarial act can all cause a receiving agency to reject the document. How you fix it depends on where you are.
Some states, including California and Florida, don’t allow any corrections to a completed notarial certificate. The only option is for you and the notary to meet again and perform a new notarization. Other states let the original notary line through the incorrect information, write in the correct details, and initial and date the change, updating the journal entry to match.
If there isn’t room on the certificate to make a legible correction, the notary may line through the original, write “see attached certificate,” and staple a new completed certificate to the document. Only the notary who performed the original notarization should make corrections. Never let anyone else alter a notarial certificate, and never white-out or erase anything.
If the Document Is Going Abroad
A notarized document meant for use in another country usually needs an extra certification called an apostille, for countries that participate in the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. If the document was notarized under a state commission, you request the apostille from the Secretary of State in the state where it was notarized. Fees and processing times vary by state.
One detail catches people off guard: certain federal documents submitted for an apostille must not be notarized. Adding a notarization can actually invalidate them.2Travel.State.Gov. Preparing Your Document for an Apostille Certificate If the destination country isn’t part of the Hague Convention, you’ll likely need full embassy legalization instead. Check with the embassy or consulate before starting.